Cal football: The unstoppable, inevitable march to the Rose Bowl

*** Early version of a column I wrote for Friday’s Mercury News and then forgot to post on the Hotline. Please note: The theme and some of the details have been covered on the Hotline in the past 10-14 days.

This is it for Cal. Beginning with a beat down of Maryland on Saturday night, this is the year of the Bears.

This is the year they topple USC, the year they win the Pacific-10 Conference, the year they reach the Rose Bowl for the first time since Jan. 1, 1959.

This is the year Joe Kapp drinks his Tequila.

It all sets up perfectly for the Bears, who were picked second in the Pac-10 preseason media poll behind USC, the seven-time defending league champion.

They have a veteran quarterback (junior Kevin Riley) who can make plays with his arm and his legs.

They have a dazzling tailback (Jahvid Best) who can score from anywhere at anytime.

They have first-rate offensive tackles (Mitchell Schwartz and Mike Tepper) to repel the pass rushers who prowl the Pac-10.

They have playmakers on the defensive line and in the secondary, a game-changing punter (Bryan Anger) and a favorable schedule:

The Trojans visit Berkeley in early October, when they’re prone to stumbles, as opposed to November, when they never lose.

Not since the early years of Pete Carroll’s tenure has USC been this vulnerable, what with a revamped defense, a slew of injuries and academic casualties and a freshman quarterback.

Matt Barkley will be making the fifth start of his career when the Trojans arrive Oct. 3 (assuming he has played well enough to keep the job).

The last time Cal beat USC, in triple overtime six years ago, it was late September and Trojans quarterback Matt Leinart was making the fourth start of his career.

It all sets up perfectly for the Bears.

They have 15 returning starters (compared to 12 for USC) and strong leadership across all units.

Coach Jeff Tedford has solved the trust issues that derailed the ’07 season.

New offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig, a Tedford pal, is the right fit for that critical role.

And there is no quarterback controversy – it’s Riley’s job.

Not since the 2004 season, when they came within a last-second touchdown (at USC) of winning the conference, have the Bears possessed this combination of talent, experience and chemistry.

“This is the best overall group,’’ said offensive tackle Mike Tepper, a sixth-year senior and the only current player who was on the ’04 roster.

“We’ve had groups with a lot of talent. But the ’04 team also had great cohesion. In between, the cohesion has been okay. This year, it’s really good.”

It all sets up perfectly.

The Bears have just one road game against a preseason top-25 team, Oregon.

The conference rivals that give them the most trouble (USC, Oregon State and Arizona) must all visit Berkeley, where Cal is 27-4 the last five years.

And the Bears have a perfectly-placed bye between the USC colossus and the tough trip to UCLA, where Tedford has never won.

They’ll lose at some point, sure. They aren’t good enough to run the table. But a head-to-head victory over USC combined with a second league loss for the Trojans will give Cal the cushion it needs to reach the Rose Bowl.

This is the year – it has to be.

When will Cal have a back like Best, a defense like this and a freshman under center at USC? When will everything be set up so perfectly?

“I’ve hoped every year since I’ve been here that ‘This is the year,’’’ Tepper said. “I felt confident going into the ’07 season, too. But you can’t bank on it.’’

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Nice dream, Jon. I hate to turn this into another Cal nightmare, but did you notice how Matt Barkley performed on Saturday? Is 15 for 19 a bad day? And how about those 5 running backs? Does Cal have a defense for all of them?
Keep your dreams, but when you wake up, it will be USC once again at the top of the Pac-10. See ya January 7 in Pasadena.

Stanford #1

Before we place Cal into the Rose Bowl…. let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

I predict that Stanford will win the Big Game and ruin Cal’s chances of its first Rose Bowl since 1959 (not too far from WWII).

Weird things always happen in the Big Game.

Stanford #1

Also…. Cal football is the Pac-10 equivalent of the Chicago Cubs… they always show a lot of promise in the beginning, but fizzle out near the end. Just like the lovable losers – the Cubbies.

MostWantedSpartan

“This is the year they topple USC, the year they win the Pacific-10 Conference, the year they reach the Rose Bowl for the first time since Jan. 1, 1959.”

I will be very surprised if the Bears can get to half-time and the game still be close. We were only good for a quarter, maybe a smidgen more (there were some strange decisions at that time like changing QB and timeout after a successful play). Once those horses get running they don’t stop even when they should. Good luck with that, you’re gonna need it.

pfft

MostWantedSpartan

Actually,

Since this game is at Berkley they may have a chance. They should not have to contend with the zebras like we did. Any “questionable” call like a fumble will not go u$c’s way. So maybe they will have a chance. maybe.

MostWantedSpartan

They won’t get away with full take downs of your D-line too so I’m starting to change my mind about Berkley chances..

MostWantedSpartan

We don’t get a return game with u$c which bites because we don’t get a chance at redemption no matter how slim. u suck

Jon I think you are hard-pressed to say the Trojans are “prone” to early October stumbles when in seven seasons (2002-2008) they have exactly two “stumbles,” 2002 against co-champion Washington State and Jason Gesser in OT and 2007 against Stanford. Other than that, early October still looks pretty good.

TELROD

Of ALL the college football openers this weekend the Cal/Maryland game was the most fun to watch. Like the Bull Durham bulls, the Golden Bears played with poetry.

Bearfan

Even as a Cal fan, I’m not going to drink as much koolaid as Wilner. But come on, some of you here think we have no chance to beat USC? We have been in the game against the Trojans up until the 4th quarter for the last 3 years. This team could be our best yet so I certainly think there is good chance we could win it this year.

And seriously, no disrect to SJSU, but outside of Kyle Reed, not a single spartan player would be even a second string player for Cal. So don’t use your game as some kind of a benchmark for how we’re going to do against the Trojans. Hell, I’ll bet even the same Maryland team that we crushed on Saturday could have beaten SJSU by at least 2 touchdowns.

GBBS

The Bears showed something they have not shown in the past which is to never let a team back in the game. Looking back at Michigan State and Tennessee, the games seemed like they were over, the offense and defense fell asleep and the games became closer than they should have been. Cal has let that happen on many other games against teams that they should have killed.

The passing game looks promising and I could see Riley gain confidence as the game rolled on. The receivers look much better than last year and made some great catches. The defense looks fast, but I was surprised how many yard Maryland gained.

I am rooting for $c to be undefeated when they come to Berkeley. This should be a great game with potential NCG implications.

Roll on you bears!

Todd

Cal should be ranked #1 in the nation and are shoe-in for the national championship game. Right?

Broncoboss

I’m happy for Cal & their fans except for Vintage Cal…Cal deserves better people for fans than him…

Bearfan

Oops I just checked the scoreboard and its 4th quarter and the score is:

Cincinnati 45
Rutgers 7

Hmm yeah Broncoboss, you’re so right. That Rutgers team is so loaded. Still think I’m gonna eat crow? Still think they’re going to the Sugar Bowl? What did I tell you about Greg Schiano being the most overrated coach ever?

StanTheMan

If I recall correctly, this blog is written by the same guy who predicted Stanford would beat Cal in Big Game. LOL Jon.

Broncoboss

Bearfan, you were right! I was wrong! I will eat crow-not you…I’m man enough to admit when I’m wrong-even though it doesn’t happen very often…

nonplussed

I’m with Bearfan. It’s too early to drink the kool-aid and definitely too soon for smack talk. Until Cal does it they haven’t done it… and USC is the best college football program of the 21st century.

Still, Cal looks strong, the schedule is favorable, and USC may not be the juggernaut of recent years. There are lots of reasons to be optimistic if you are a Cal fan. One thing is certain. If you only watch one college football game this year you have to watch Cal-USC.

milo

I’m with you BearFan…no kool-aid. If anything Cal fans should tell Wilner to take a 4 month vacation on the premise of a Wilner reverse jinx call.

That said, the Bears looked FANTASTIC. Best sat out most of the 2nd half, the passing game rocked and Maryland was a decent, above average team if nothing special.

One thing that hasn’t gotten a lot of play is Ludwig game calling. Sure he had Best and Riley was very, very good but he still called the game. Lots of stuff that wasn’t seen last year. Hard to argue with 542 total yards (or whatever it was). Oh yeah and the D was huge. Owasu kicked some serious butt and he’s Jordan’s back up.

Trojan4Ever

Let’s hear it for Cal. One game and they are ready for the NCG! Go Bears!

ToparchiBear

What I saw in this year, which I did not see much in other years are the togetherness of the bears, whether they are offense or the defense, or whether they are in the same possition, they cheered each other after a long gain or touch down (looked how Best went up and cheered Vereen, when he got the touchdown) That is the spirit of un-selfishness and a spirit of Unity. And, unity will prevail in team sport. when ever you have a me first disease in the team, it will fall apart at the end.

And, I hope the spirit of which glue them together will last the entire season, and you will see the fruits which will bring them to the promise land.

I can see the next challenge game will be at Minnesota, but, given how Minnesota just barely beat SU last week, a team that went 3-9 last year. I can be more relax.

Go Bears!

nonplussed

That is the spirit of un-selfishness and a spirit of Unity. And, unity will prevail in team sport. when ever you have a me first disease in the team, it will fall apart at the end.

I agree, ToparchiBear. That’s why I hate Heisman talk before and during the season. Football is a team sport and the best teams win regardless of individual talent.

Golden Bear

Hey Condom4Ever: In re the first post in this string, are you suggesting that U$C is going to use all 5 running backs at the same time, running 5 balls on a single play? I know of no other reason why Cal would have to have a “defense for all of them.”

Typically, only 2 non-blocking backs can matter on any given play. You can play 2 good ones. So can we. Your point is?

m:lo

Okay, people, before all you condoms and furdies start jumping on Cal, I suggest you take a look at where the ACFCA (as in American Collegiate Football Coaches Association) has the Bears ranked. #1!
Go Bears and Rose Bowl here we come!